In a dynamite ensemble cast playing the denizens of a Manhattan bar all fallen on hard times for their own reasons, veteran actor Jeff Kober as a ragtag, rambling cowboy off his meds is particularly arresting, finding layers and layers of subtle nuance in what could otherwise be a glaringly stereotypical role.

In Lee Blessing’s taut drama Going to St. Ives, Inger Tudor provides an eloquent, almost iconic portrait of a tough but compassionate African empress who must confront the fact that the son she loves has grown into a vicious, amoral dictator and a public menace. She captures the imperiousness and gravitas of the empress, the pain and determination of the mother, and ultimately, the stoicism of a woman who has been stripped of status and wealth, as well as liberty. Her performance is subtle, multilayered, and memorable. —Neal Weaver